Method and apparatus for splicing spun yarns

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for splicing the ends of spun yarn includes means for inserting the yarn ends into a hole associated with a splicing nozzle having one or more air jet pipes, in which hole the ends are subjected to an air jet to join them each other. Yarn end control nozzles for the yarn on the package side and the yarn on the bobbin side are disposed at each end of the splicing nozzle to suck the yarn ends in the corresponding yarn end control nozzles, respectively and to keep the yarn ends free therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for splicingspun yarns. The yarn splicing apparatus of the present inventioncomprises a splicing nozzle for applying a jetted air to the yarn ends,a device for introducing the yarn ends into the yarn splicing nozzle andyarn control nozzles for sucking the yarn end from the package and theyarn end from the bobbin, which are disposed at each end of the splicingnozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been often considered that known conventional fisherman's knotsor weaver's knots are valuable as yarn splicing means suitable for massproduction and it cannot be helpful that yarn defects are caused byadoption of these yarn splicing methods.

Accordingly, in case of fisherman's knots or weaver's knots, improvementof the binding strength alone has been intended so that falling of yarnsis not caused even if knots are pulled, but in connection with decreaseof the thickness of the knot which is about 3 times the thickness of asingle yarn, only reduction of the size of the yarn end projecting fromthe knot has been tried. However, this large thickness of the knotresults in breakage of the yarn by a knitting needle at the knittingstep and continuous operation of a knitting machine is inhibited. If aknitting machine is operated continuously irrespectively of occurrenceof such breakage of yarns, a knitted fabric having defective holes isproduced. Furthermore, in an air of water jet room, the yarn endsprojecting from knots of wefts fall in contact with opened warps andthere is caused a disadvantage that the wefts fail to reach the ends ofa fabric being weaven. Moreover, knots appearing on a woven fabric as afinal product are regarded as defects, and in order to obtain a highquality product, a region including such knots is excluded from thefabric and in case of a medium quality or lower quality product, thereshould be adopted a troublesome manual operation of pushing the knots tothe backside of the fabric. Accordingly, if knots are sufficiently smallbut can resist pulling forces applied at various processing steps, theforegoing disadvantages involved in the manufacturing process and theproduct quality will be eliminated.

We previously filed some patent application for means for solving theforegoing basic problem. Also in the present invention, we propose amethod and apparatus for solving this problem.

According to one of our previous proposals, a yarn on the package sideand a yarn on the bobbin side, which are to be spliced together, are cutand yarn ends are held by a yarn cutting and holding device and the yarnends are subjected to an action of a splicing nozzle. In this method,however, fibers of the yarn ends on both the sides of a formed knot arenot wound on the yarn but left in the angular form, and there is causeda defect that two yarns are piled together in the spliced joint and thediameter of the spliced joint becomes larger than in other regions. Themain problem of the present invention is how to eliminate this defect.Of course, the utility of our previous proposal is not denied at all bythe present invention, but the basic problem in the manufacturingprocess has already been solved by our previous proposal through aproduct is still insufficient in the quality (the quality grade) to someextent. More specifically, when knots of our previous proposal areadopted for two doubled or twisted yarns, the above-mentioned defectconcerning the quality is not conspicuous, but in case of the knittingprocess using cotton or wool or the weaving process where single yarnsare often used for formation of knitted or woven fabrics, knots of ourprevious proposal tend to result in a defect of the quality. The presentinvention is to eliminate this disadvantage involved in our previousproposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and anapparatus for producing spun yarns having a spliced joint of whichdiameter is smaller than that of the conventional joints.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and anapparatus for producing spliced yarns having a smooth configuration andappearance which can resist various processing treatments and having amuch enhanced quality without causing weave defects or knit defects.

According to the present invention, yarn end control nozzles arestationarily arranged on both the sides of a splicing nozzle and yarnends on both the package side and bobbin side are sucked in these yarnend control nozzles while these yarn ends are kept free, whereby asucking action is imposed on the tops of both the yarn ends to cause acertain change in the yarn ends. In this state, the yarn splicing iscarried out while imparting a certain resistance to the tops of the yarnends by an action of the splicing nozzle.

When this splicing method is adopted, angular projections of fiber endsare not formed before of after the spliced joints, and the diameter ofthe resulting spliced joints is smaller than the size of two piled yarnsand the tensile strength of the spliced joints is 70 to 80% of thetensile strength of the single yarn. Moreover, in both the end portionsof the spliced joint, fiber ends are not present in the state woundaround the yarn but they are present in the state parallel to each otherwith entanglements being formed in such fibers arranged in parallel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view showing cutting of a spun yarn, in which arrangement offibers is diagrammatically illustrated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the side view of an automatic winderprovided with a splicing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the main part of the splicing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the splicing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the suction nozzle portion inthe splicing apparatus.

FIGS. 6-A through 6-G are diagrams illustrating the operation steps inthe splicing apparatus.

FIG. 7-A is a diagram illustrating the principle of splicing using anair swirling nozzle as the splicing nozzle.

FIG. 7-B is a model diagram showing a joint formed according to ourpreviously proposed splicing method and apparatus.

FIG. 7-C is a model diagram illustrating a joint formed according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Several terms used in the instant specification will now be illustrated.By the term "spun yarn" or "yarn" is meant a yarn including naturalyarns such as cotton yarns, woollen yarns or flax yarns, and a spun yarnproduced by spinning so-called staple fibers formed by cutting in theshort length chemical long filaments or blend of such natural orchemical fibers. Accordingly, chemical endless long filaments are notincluded in the "spun yarn". Moreover, the "spun yarn" has an inherenttwist number expressed in terms of twists per meter, which is given atthe spinning steps, and in the present invention, it is defined thatthese twists are distributed substantially uniform along the entirelength of the "spun yarn". Furthermore, in this "spun yarn", two or moreconstituent yarns may have an inherent twist number or may not have aninherent twist number.

By the term "cutting of a spun yarn" is meant mechanical cutting of theyarn in a direction rectangular to the yarn axis but is not meantseparation of the yarn by a mechanical pulling action. The term"untwisting-cutting" is used to express the case where a spun yarn isuntwisted by swirling streams of air to be broken and to form new yarnends.

The present invention will now be described in detail by reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically arrangement of fibers in a spun yarnY. The spun yarn Y is held at a point A and cut at a point B. Since thespun yarn Y has been twisted and it has a property that fall-out ofindividual fibers is prevented by such twists, separation of fibers f1to f10 is hardly caused. Furthermore, even when the spun yarn Y is heldat the points A and B and it is false-twisted by jetting air between thepoints A and B, separation of the fibers f1 to f10 is hardly caused. Inthis case, it can be presumed that some fiber f8 may be separated, butit is considered that reduction of the fiber quantity between the pointsA and B is substantially zero.

When the yarn is held only at the point A but kept free at the point Band the yarn is false-twisted between the points A and B by an airstream, the possibility of separation or flying of the fibers f10, f7,f9, f8 and f6 is remarkably increased. In this case, if thefalse-twisting direction is reverse to the direction of inherent twistsof the spun yarn, better results will be obtained. Namely, the quantityof fibers left on the side of the point A is drastically reduced. Inthis case, the false-twisting time (quantity and intensity),characteristics of fibers and the position B where the spun yarn is cutmust be taken into account as factors causing variations. Thefalse-twisting time, which is closely related to the time of initiationof entanglements in the spun yarn, will be described in detailhereinafter. Influences of the characteristics of fibers and theposition where the spun yarn is cut are now described. For example,cotton fibers are in the form of a twisted hollow string, and the fiberlength is 10 to 40 mm through the fiber length varies to some extentaccording to the place of production, and wool fibers are in the form ofa string covered with scales and it is said that the fiber length ofwool fibers is 20 to 200 mm though the fiber length varies to someextent according to the kind of sheep and the collection position. Theabove-mentioned position B is set according to such characteristics offibers, though setting of the position B is not simply defined becauseblending of various fibers if often performed. However, if the distancebetween the points A and B is not the same as or shorter than theaverage length of fibers constituting the spun yarn to be processed, thesignificance of the cutting position B will be lost. If the abovedistance is much shorter than the average length, the risk of separationof fibers is remarkably reduced. Of course, in case of untwistingcutting different from the mere cutting, the position B may be set sothat the distance between the points A and B is larger than the averagefiber length.

It will readily be understood that according to the spun yarn cuttingand holding method we previously proposed, it is relatively difficult tocontrol and reduce the size of the spliced joints. Furthermore, it willreadily be understood that if the spun yarn is subjected to an action ofa suction stream while keeping the fiber ends free according to thepresent invention, the first function of separating and removing fibersby the yarn control nozzles can be sufficiently exerted.

The spun yarn Y consisting of fibers f1, f2, f3 and f4, which is held atthe nip point A is piled on a spun yarn kept in a similar state and isexposed to an action of the splicing nozzle to effect splicing byentanglements among fibers of the yarns. If the fibers are notrestrained and are subjected to an action of air jetted from thesplicing nozzle for a certain time, random entanglements are causedamong the fibers and in many cases, yarn splicing is not accomplishedsuccessfully. In other words, the yarn end of the spun yarn is raised bythe air stream and fibers of the yarn ends of both the spun yarns areentangled with each other at some stage of rising. Then, both the yarnends are integrated and start a movement agreeing with the movement ofthe air stream, and a fiber movement is caused by strong entanglementsamong the fibers. Accordingly, a variation is caused in the timerequired for causing initial entanglements among fibers of both the yarnends, which have been raised by the air stream. Namely, even if air isjetted from the splicing nozzle for a certain time, no constant certainair jetting is attained. In order to eliminate this variation, it isnecessary in principle to restrain both the yarn ends, and it ispreferred that the overlap quantity of both the yarn ends exceeds acertain level. However, as pointed out hereinbefore, the overlapquantity of both the yarn ends varies according to the cutting positionof the spun yarn. Namely, in FIG. 1, it cannot be said that all fibersf10, f7, f9 and f8 can always be removed and detached. In some case,only the fiber f10 may be detached and removed but other fibers f1 to f9are nipped at the point A. In other case, only the fibers f10 and f7 maybe detached and removed. However, based on experimental data, it ispossible to set the spun yarn cutting position so that the fibers f10,f7, f8 and f9 can be detached and removed on the average from the spunyarn. Furthermore, it is possible to find out data of the degree ofentanglements among fibers constituting the spun yarn. Moreover, theoverlap quantity can be determined according to the pressure andquantity of air jetted from the splicing nozzle. Namely, the overlapquantity can be determined depending on data of the state of jetting ofair from the nozzle, for example, strong jetting in the initial stageand subsequent weak jetting. Thus, the overlap quantity is determinedaccording to various conditions. However determined the overlap quantitymay be, the yarn splicing will not be successful if the top ends offibers are not restrained. This does not mean that the overlap quantityis of no significance. If the top ends of fibers are restrained, theoverlap quantity will be a significant factor for obtaining good splicedjoints. As pointed out hereinbefore, fibers are first raised by thesplicing nozzle, and after first entanglements among top ends of thefibers, joints are formed by the movement of the fibers agreeing withthe movement of the air stream from the nozzle. If both the yarn endspiled and inserted in the splicing nozzle are not restrained at all andthey are subjected in this state to the action of the jetted air stream,the yarn ends are freely raised up and their behaviors are not constant,and therefore, yarn splicing can not be accomplished at all even if boththe yarn ends are doubled, because both the yarn ends fly and escapefrom the splicing nozzle. However, if the abovementioned yarn endcontrol nozzles are disposed to subject the yarn ends to the action ofthese control nozzles at the splicing step, a resistance correspondingto the suction force of the yarn end control nozzle is imposed on thetop ends of fibers. Accordingly, entanglements of the top ends of fibersare caused convergently at a certain point of time under the action ofthe splicing nozzle. After first entanglement of both the yarn ends, thesplicing nozzle entangles the top ends of the fibers with fibers ofanother spun yarn against the suction force of the yarn end controlnozzles. In other words, the second function of the yarn end controlnozzles in the present invention is a function of causing firstentanglement at a certain point of time and pulling the top ends offibers while imparting a certain resistance thereto. In the actualoperation, the pressure of the yarn end control nozzles may beappropriately selected depending on the above-mentioned characteristicsof fibers. If this second function is not exerted by the yarn endcontrol nozzles, the first entanglement becomes indefinite and the sizeof the spliced joint tends to become small. If joints are formed withoutany resistance given to the yarn ends, variations are caused in theintensity of the entanglement among fibers, and as a result, variationsof the tensile strength in the joints in the spliced yarn as a whole arecaused.

In connection with this second function, if such yarn end controlnozzles are used, the step of assisting formation of a balloon byforming a certain slacking in the doubled spun yarns as in ourpreviously proposed method using a swirling nozzle as the splicingnozzle and the above-mentioned cutting and holding device need not beperformed. More specifically, when the splicing nozzle is operated, theyarn end in an amount necessary for formation of a balloon is taken outfrom the yarn end control nozzle and the suction force of the yarn endcontrol nozzle allows ballooning while controlling the degree ofballooning. If this function is called a buffer function, as the thirdfunction of the yarn end control nozzles, there can be mentioned thisbuffer function.

The present invention will now be described in detail by reference toembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 2, an automatic winder to which the present invention is appliedis diagrammatically outlined. The present invention can be applied toany of known automatic winders and the applicable automatic winder isnot limited to one illustrated in FIG. 2.

A shaft or pipe 2 and a pipe 3 are laid out between side frames 1, and awinding unit 4 is turnably supported on the shaft 2. While the winder isoperated, the winding unit 4 is also placed on the pipe 3 and isappropriately fixed. The pipe 3 is connected to a blower (not shown) anda suction stream is always applied to the pipe 3.

Rewinding of the yarn from a bobbin B to a package P in this windingunit is accomplished in the following manner.

A yarn Y1 from the bobbin B on a peg is guided to a tensioner 7 througha guide 6 and a certain tension is applied to the yarn Y1. Then, theyarn is passed through a detecting device for detecting and cutting theyarn unevenness and also detecting travelling of the yarn and is woundon the package P rotated by a winding drum 9. When the yarn unevennessis detected, a cutter of the detecting device is actuated, and therunning yarn Y1 is cut to stop the winding operation. Simultaneously, afirst yarn guide suction arm 10 is actuated to insert a yarn YL on thebobbin side into a yarn splicing device 12 located apart from anordinary yarn running passage Y1 and a second yarn guide suction arm 11is actuated to insert a yarn YU on the package side into the splicingdevice 12. After splicing has been performed in the splicing device,rewinding of the yarn is conducted again. The first and second yarnguide suction arms 10 and 11 are connected to the pipe 3 to which thesuction stream is applied.

The splicing device 12 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Sincecompressed air is used in this splicing device, a pipe 13 is laid out asshown in FIG. 2 and communicated through conduits 14 and 14-1.

Referring to FIG. 3, during the ordinary rewinding operation, the yarntravels through the detecting device 8 and guide plates 15 and 16disposed before and after the detecting device 8 from the bobbin B andalong a yarn passage from an upper guide plate 17 to the package P. Thispassage is an ordinary yarn passage. There may be adopted a modificationin which a yarn inspecting device is mounted on the guide plate 17 todetect the diameter of the joint for automatically cutting and removinga joint having an unfavorable diameter and to give yarn splicinginstructions. The yarn splicing device is interposed between the guideplates 16 and 17 and the first and second yarn guide suction arms 10 and11 are arranged so that they are moved to the outside of the guideplates 15 and 17 and stopped outside the guide plates 15 and 17. Theguided yarn ends are represented by YU and YL in FIG. 3.

In the body 18 of the splicing device, there are integrally disposed asplicing nozzle 19, two yarn end control nozzles 20 and 21, two cuttingdevices 22 and 23 and upper and lower guide plates 24 and 25.

Yarn guide levers 26 and 27 are disposed so that they can turn with ashaft 28 being as the center. The positions of the yarn guide levers 26and 27 which have turned are between the guide plates 17 and 24 andbetween the guide plates 25 and 16, respectively. A member 29 having aV-shaped section disposed in the lower portion of the body of thesplicing device co-operates with the lever 27 to clamp the yarn YL. Ifanother clamping member 29 is disposed between the guide plates 17 and24 and the splicing operation is carried out while clamping both theyarn ends, the length of the yarn ends can be kept constant and the yarnsplicing operation can be performed under a good control. Accordingly,the number of clamping members is not limited to one as in theembodiment shown in the drawings.

Functions and structures of the respective members will now be describedin more detail.

The yarn splicing nozzle 19 is fixed to a bracket 30 by means of a bolt31, and as clearly shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical hole 32 is formedthrough a square column and a slit 33 suitable for inserting the yarnfrom the outside is formed along the entire length of the hole 32 in theaxial direction thereof. A jetting hole 34 is opened tangentially tosaid hole 32. A conduit 35 is connected to the jetting hole 34 and it isconnected to the pipe 13 through the conduit 14 via a change-over valve.In the present embodiment, one jetting hole 34 is formed for the hole32, but a plurality of jetting holes may be formed for the hole 32. Aswill be apparent from the intended object of the present invention, thesplicing nozzle 19 is not limited to the swirling type shown in thedrawings. For example, there may be used a nozzle in which a V-shapedgroove is formed on a square column and an air jetting hole is formed onthe bottom of the groove to disturb two yarns, and a nozzle in which anopening and closing lid is formed to cover the top face of theabove-mentioned V-shaped groove. Furthermore, other types of air jettingnozzles may be used.

The yarn end control nozzle 20 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 5. Theyarn end control nozzle 21 has a similar structure and therefore,explanation of the nozzle 21 is omitted. A nozzle hole 36 is connectedto the pipe 3 through a flexible pipe 37 and a suction force is alwaysapplied to the nozzle hole 36. There may be adopted a modification inwhich the nozzle hole 36 is connected to the pipe 3 through a valve sothat the suction force is applied only when application of the suctionforce is necessary. A jetting hole 38 is opened on the nozzle hole 36and is inclined in the direction along which the suction force acts. Thejetting hole 38 is connected to the compressed air pipe 13 through aflexible pipe 39, a valve and the above-mentioned conduit 14-1. Theremay be adopted a modification in which the jetting hole 38 is opened inthe tangential direction so as to generate swirling air streams and theswirling air streams are imposed on the yarn YL in the direction reverseto the twisting direction in the yarn YL. This yarn end control nozzleis fixed while it is used, but it is preferred that the position of thisnozzle can be freely adjusted.

The cutting device 22 will now be described by reference to FIG. 4.Since the mechanism and structure of the cutting device 23 are the sameas those of the cutting device 22, explanation of the cutting device 23is omitted.

The cutting device 22 has a scissor-like shape. A movable blade 42 turnsrelatively to a fixed blade 41 with a pin 40 being as the center to cutthe yarn YL. One yarn is sucked and removed by the first yarn guidesuction arm 10 and the other yarn is sucked and held by the yarn endcontrol nozzle 20. As the mechanism for the movable blade 42, a rod 43is drawn by a control cam (not shown) to turn a two-forked lever 44 inthe counterclockwise direction with a shaft 45 being as the center, andthe fork portion 46 of the lever 44 moves a pin 47 of the movable blade42 to turn the movable blade 42 in the clockwise direction to cut theyarn.

The guide plates 24 and 25 are arranged outside the cutting devices 22and 23, and the guide plates 24 and 25 have guide grooves 48 and 49 andguide grooves 50 and 51, respectively. The yarn YL is inserted in theguide grooves 49 and 51 and the yarn YU is inserted in the guide grooves48 and 50. At this point, the yarn YL is located in the cutting device22 on the nozzle hole 36 and the yarn YU is located in the cuttingdevice 23 on the nozzle hole 36-1.

The yarn guide levers 26 and 27 are fixed together to the shaft 28. Whena rod 52 is drawn by the action of a control cam (not shown), the yarnguide lever 26 turns in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4 with the shaft28 being as the center, and the yarns YU and YL are inserted in theguide grooves 48 and 49 and the guide grooves 50 and 51, respectively,according to the configuration of the guide plates 24 and 25.

The operation of the entire apparatus will now be described.

When the yarn travel detecting device 8 detects the absence of therunning yarn, that is, yarn breakage or consumption of the yarn on thebobbin, during the rewinding operation, the drum 9 is stopped andsimultaneously, a one-way rotation clutch is actuated to cause controlcams formed on a shaft rotated by said clutch or control camsco-operating with said shaft to perform the yarn splicing operation. Atfirst, the first and second yarn guide suction arms are shifted from thepositions indicated in FIG. 2 to pick up the yarns YL and YU on thebobbin and package sides and deliver them to the yarn splicing device12.

This state is illustrated in FIG. 6-A. The yarn YL from the bobbin B ispassed through guide grooves of the lower guide plates 15 and 16 and isplaced on the upper guide plate 17, and the yarn YU on the package sideis passed through the guide groove of the guide plate 17 and is placedabove the guide plates 15 and 16.

Then, the yarn guide levers 25 and 26 are turned by contraction of therod 52 by other control cams, and the yarns YU and YL are simultaneouslypushed in the directions indicated by arrows 53 and 54. At this point,according to configurations of the guide plates 24 and 25, the yarn YLon the bobbin side is inserted into the guide grooves 49 and 51 and theyarn YU on the package side is inserted into the guide grooves 48 and50. In this state, there is established an arrangement suitable forcutting of the yarns YL and YU and suction by the yarn end controlnozzles. Referring to FIG. 6-B showing the section of the splicingnozzle 19, the yarns YU and YL are inserted through the slit 33 in thehole 32 where the opening 55 of the air jetting hole 34 is formed.

Subsequently, the cutting device 22 is actuated to cut the yarns YL andYU and the cut ends are sucked by the yarn end control nozzles 20 and21, as shown in FIG. 6-C.

Referring to FIG. 6-D, the yarn guide levers 26 and 27 are slightlyreturned to the directions indicated by arrow 56 and 57. During thisreturn movement or after this return movement, compressed air is jettedfrom the air jetting holes of the yarn end control nozzles 20, 21 by theaction of control cams (not shown). At this step, the yarn ends aresufficiently intruded in the yarn end control nozzles and fibers arescattered away by the jetted air streams. Of course, untwisting-cuttingof the spun yarn may be caused by generating swirling streams in thejetted air streams and turning the yarn in a direction reverse to theinherent twisting direction of the yarn. As a result of experiments madeby using the same apparatus, it was confirmed that althoughuntwisting-cutting is relatively difficult in case of wool, sufficientuntwisting-cutting can be accomplished in case of cotton. When asufficient action is applied to the yarn ends by the yarn end controlnozzles 20 and 21 and fibers are sufficiently detached, the step shownin FIG. 6-D may be omitted. After completion of this step, jetting ofair is stopped. The reason is that in the present embodiment, since thecapacity of the pipe 37 is small, if the quantity of the jetted airstream becomes excessive, there is caused a risk of fly-out of the yarnends from the nozzles by an adverse current of air. If the capacity ofthe pipe 37 is sufficiently large, jetting of air may be continuedaccording to need.

At the step shown in FIG. 6-E, the levers 26 and 27 are forwarded to themost advanced positions, and the yarn is clamped between the lever 27and the member 29. By this movement, the yarn end once inserted into theyarn end control nozzle is pulled out again. Since the swirling nozzleis used as the splicing nozzle 19 in the present embodiment, twists ofthe yarn is transferred to such a side that the swirling direction ofthe swirling nozzle is reverse to the inherent twisting direction of theyarn, when the yarn ends are entangled with each other. In short, inorder to prevent displacement of the jetting point for imparting twistswith the twisting operation, the member 29 is disposed on the side thatthe swirling direction of nozzle in reverse to the twist of the yarn.When the splicing nozzle 19 is one for causing disturbance alone, thismember 29 need not be disposed.

At the subsequent step shown in FIG. 6-F, the valve is operated by meansof control cams (not shown) to actuate the splicing nozzle 19 to form aspliced joint between the yarns YU and YL. At this step of forming ofthe spliced joint, the top yarn ends are drawn out from the yarn endcontrol nozzle holes 36 and 36-1 and they are entangled with each other.

Then, the levers 26 and 27 are returned, and the spliced yarn is shiftedto the ordinary yarn passage by the winding tension imposed on the yarnas shown in FIG. 6-G.

Spliced joints formed by using the method and apparatus according to theabove-mentioned embodiment of the present invention are shown in FIG.7-C. In this case, a wool single yarn Nm 40 is processed under asplicing nozzle pressure of 5.5 kg/cm² and a yarn end control nozzlepressure of 4 kg/cm². Furthermore, when a cotton single yarn Ne 40 isprocessed under a splicing nozzle pressure of 6 kg/cm² and a yarn endcontrol nozzle pressure of 6 kg/cm², joints similar to those shown inFIG. 7-C are obtained. The reason why a higher yarn end control nozzlepressure is adopted in case of cotton than in case of wool is thatsufficient untwisting-cutting is caused by increasing the pressure.

In order to clearly explain the characteristics of joints formed byusing the above-mentioned method and apparatus of the present invention,FIGS. 7-A and 7-B are given together with FIG. 7-C. Joints shown inFIGS. 7-A and 7-B are those formed by using swirling nozzles, and ifthese joints are compared with those shown in FIG. 7-C, excellenteffects of the present invention will readily be understood. Jointsshown in FIGS. 7-B and 7-C are formed by using various common elementsand factors, and it must be noted that various different joints areformed by changing conditions such as the air pressure, air quantity,inner diameter, size, jetting hole diameter and jetting frequency in thesplicing nozzle or the yarn end control nozzle.

In the case shown in FIG. 7-A, the yarn YU on the package side isdoubled with the yarn YL on the bobbin side and the doubled yarns areturned in a direction indicated by an arrow at the action point G of thesplicing nozzle, the yarn ends YLT and YUT are entangled and woundaround the yarns YU and YL. If the twisting direction of the yarns YUand YL and the swirling direction of the air stream from the nozzle areappropriately set, a twist number larger than the inherent twist numberis given to the yarn YU, and it is construed that the quantity of twiststhus additionally given in substantially equal to the quantity ofuntwisting in the yarn YL. The reason is that twists given by thesplicing nozzle are false twists and if the action of the splicingnozzle is stopped, the thus given twists are theoretically reduced tozero (of course, it depends on when the yarn ends YLT and YUT areentangled around the yarns YU and YL to impart false twists as a whole).Accordingly, by the action of the splicing nozzle, twists on the yarn YLare shifted and accumulated on the yarn YU, and it is construed that ifthe operation of the splicing nozzle is stopped, by the tension imposedat the start of the winding operation by the automatic winder, thetwists accumulated on the yarn YU are returned to the yarn YL. Duringthis period, changes are caused in the fibers of the top yarn ends YLTand YUT, and it is presumed that thus detached fibers are entangled withthe yarns YU and YL to form a spliced joint. If there is used a nozzlenot generating a swirling stream but producing a turbulent flow of air,gathering of fibers in the yarn ends YLT and YUT is disturbed and arandom state is brought about in the fibers.

The above-mentioned presumptive principle shown in FIG. 7-A is appliedto the cases of FIGS. 7-B and 7-C. In the case of FIG. 7-B, the yarnends YLT and YUT in the cut and held state are subjected to the actionof a swirling nozzle, and top ends of the fibers held on both the endsof the joint are cut into substantially the same length to leave angularprojections PT1 and PT2 and separated fibers are entangled between theprojections PT1 and PT2 to form entanglements K1 and K2 in the resultingjoint (see fibers f5 and f8 in FIG. 1). Furthermore, since the yarn endsYLT and YUT are cut and held, even if the yarns are subjected to theaction of the swirling nozzle, the possibility of producing a new fiberarrangement by releasing inherent twists of the yarns is very small, andtherefore, it is construed that two-yarn doubled portions DT1 and DT2are formed. From the foregoing, it is inevitably considered that fibersdetached between the projections PT1 and PT2 correspond to entanglementsK1 and K2, decrease of the fiber quantity in the joint portion betweenthe projections PT1 and PT2 is substantially zero and the joint portionhas a diameter corresponding to the sum of the diameters of the twoyarns. This joint illustrated in FIG. 7-B is one formed according to ourpreviously proposed splicing method and apparatus.

In the case shown in FIG. 7-C, since detached fibers are removed by theaction of the above-mentioned yarn end control nozzle, the quantity offibers in the portion H is reduced and is smaller than the quantitycorresponding to the sum of diameters of two doubled yarns. In theintegrated portion H, loose twists in the same twisting direction as inthe yarn YU or YT are observed, but in some case, the portion H isseparated into two yarns and they are entangled with each other. On boththe outsides of the portion H, there are present swollen portions BU1and BU2 where fibers are arranged in parallel to one another, and inentanglements K11 and K12, fibers are wound in the direction rectangularto the yarn axis. The fiber end considered to correspond to the top yarnend YLT is inclined to the left in FIG. 7-C and is broken here and thereas indicated by f11, . . . and f15. Furthermore, the portion consideredto correspond to the top yarn end YUT is inclined to the right in FIG.7-C and broken here and there as indicated by f21, . . . f25. If thisarrangement of the top ends of fibers are compared with the arrangementof projections PT1 and PT2 shown in FIG. 7-B, where the top ends offibers are aligned substantially in parallel, it will readily beunderstood that the joint formed according to the present invention hasa smooth configuration and appearance.

As will be apparent from the foregoing illustration, according to thepresent invention, there can be provided spliced joints which can resistvarious processing treatments and have a much enhanced quality withoutcausing weave defects or knit defects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for splicing spun yarns in an automaticwinder by inserting yarn ends into a yarn splicing nozzle and beingsubjected to an air jet to splice them in the yarn splicing nozzle,characterized in that splicing is performed by subjecting a yarn on thepackage side and a yarn on the bobbin side to an action of air streamjetted from the splicing nozzle, while both the yarn ends on the packageand bobbin sides are kept free under an action of suction stream inindependent yarn control nozzles for the yarn end on the package sideand the yarn end on the bobbin side, respectively.
 2. A method forsplicing spun yarns as set forth in claim 1, wherein the yarns are cuton the bobbin side and on the package side and the yarn splicing isperformed after cutting the yarns on the bobbin side and on the packageside and scattering away fibers of the cut yarn ends by means of jettedair stream in the each yarn end control nozzle.
 3. A method for splicingspun yarns as set forth in claim 2, wherein an untwisting-cuttingprocess in which the yarn is untwisted by the jetted air to cause yarnbreakage is subjected to the yarn ends as a substitute for the processof cutting of the yarn ends and scattering away of fibers at the cutyarn ends.
 4. A method for splicing spun yarns as set forth in claim 1,wherein the yarn ends on the package side and the yarn on the bobbinside are clamped by a clamping member before the yarns on the packageside and on the bobbin side are subjected to the action of air streamsjetted from said splicing nozzle, and this clamping is released afterthe yarns on the package side and on the bobbin side are subjected tothe action of air streams jetted from said splicing nozzle.
 5. Anapparatus for splicing spun yarns in an automatic winder comprising asplicing nozzle disposed at a position apart from an ordinary yarnpassage of the automatic winder, two movable yarn guide suction armsmounted to guide a yarn connected to a package and a yarn connected to abobbin to said splicing nozzle, respectively, yarn end control nozzlesdisposed on both the sides of said splicing nozzle to insert both theyarn ends on the package side and on the bobbin side into the splicingnozzle when both the yarn ends are guided by said movable arms, yarnguide levers mounted in the vicinity of openings of said yarn endcontrol nozzles and cutting means for cutting the yarns on both thepackage and bobbin sides between said yarn guide levers and said movablearms when said yarn guide levers are operated, wherein the yarn ends cutby said cutting means are sucked by the corresponding yarn end controlnozzles, respectively and are exposed to an action of suction streamswhile the yarn ends are kept free and the yarn end of the package sideand the yarn end on the bobbin side are spliced together under theaction of said splicing nozzles.
 6. An apparatus for splicing spun yarnsas set forth in claim 5, wherein the yarn end control nozzle comprises anozzle hole where a suction force is applied to, and a jetting holewhich is opened on the nozzle hole and is inclined in the directionalong which the suction force acts.
 7. An apparatus for splicing spunyarns as set forth in claim 5, wherein a clamping member for guidingyarn is disposed at least on one side of the splicing nozzle toco-operate with the yarn guide lever.
 8. A method for splicing spunyarns in an automatic winder by inserting yarn ends into a yarn splicingnozzle and being subjected to an air jet to splice them in the yarnsplicing nozzle, characterized in that splicing is performed by acombination of steps comprising guiding yarn ends by yarn guide suctionarms, inserting the yarn ends into the yarn splicing nozzle by yarnguide lever, cutting yarn ends, sucking and holding the yarn ends inyarn end control nozzles at the both sides of the yarn splicing nozzlerespectively, and splicing the yarn ends by an action of the swirlingair stream in the yarn splicing nozzle while drawing out the yarn endswhich are kept free under an action of suction stream in the yarn endcontrol nozzles. .Iadd.
 9. A device for splicing together a first end ofyarn and a second end of yarn, each of said ends including severalentangled strands of fiber, said device comprising:disentangling meansfor separating said entangled strands of fiber of each of the ends andaligning them, and for removing detached strands of fiber from said yarnends; positioning means for aligning said first and second yarn endsadjacent each other, in an overlapping manner, and facing in essentiallyopposite directions; compressed fluid splicing means for entangling theseparated strands of fiber from said first yarn end with the separatedstrands of fiber from said second yarn end to thereby splice said firstand second yarn ends together. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 10. A device for splicingtogether a first end of yarn and a second end of yarn, each of said endsincluding several entangled strands of fiber, said device comprising:disentangling means for separating said entangled strands of fiber ofeach of the ends and aligning them, wherein said disentangling meansincludes at least one vacuum control nozzle having an opening into whichsaid yarn ends are directed, said nozzle creating a suction force whichdisentangles and aligns said entangled strands of fiber; positioningmeans for aligning said first and second yarn ends adjacent each other,in an overlapping manner, and facing in essentially opposite directions;compressed fluid splicing means for entangling the separated strands offiber from said first yarn end with the separated strands of fiber fromsaid second yarn end to thereby splice said first and second yarn endstogether. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 11. A device as in claim 10 wherein saidcontrol nozzle includes at least one jetting hole for supplyingcompressed fluid to the interior of the control nozzle in a directionaway from the opening to thereby create a swirling force in the controlnozzle. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the strandsof the yarn ends are twisted in a predetermined direction and theposition of said jetting hole with respect to said control nozzle isadjustable so that a stream of compressed fluid from said jetting holecreats a swirling force upon said yarn end in a direction opposite tothe twisting direction of said yarn end, thereby increasing thedisentangling action of the control nozzle. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. A deviceas in claim 9 wherein said splicing means further comprises: a splicingnozzle including an essentially cylindrical interior space into whichthe yarn ends are inserted and at least one nozzle hole for directingcompressed fluid into the interior space in a direction essentiallytangential to the interior space whereby compressed fluid forced throughsaid nozzle hole creates a swirling fluid stream by which said strandsof fiber of said yarn ends are entangled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 14. A deviceas in claim 13 wherein said splicing nozzle includes a slit, runningalong the length of the interior space, through which said yarn ends maybe introduced into the interior space and through which said splicedyarn ends may be removed. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 15. A device for splicingtogether a first end of yarn and a second end of yarn, each of said endsincluding several entangled strands of fiber, said device comprising:disentangling means for separating said entangled strands of fiber ofeach of the ends and aligning them; positioning means for aligning saidfirst and second yarn ends adjacent each other, in an overlappingmanner, and facing in essentially opposite directions, wherein saidpositioning means further comprises means for adjusting the length ofsaid yarn ends to be inserted into said disentangling means; compressedfluid splicing means for entangling the separated strands of fiber fromsaid first yarn end with the separated strands of fiber from said secondyarn end to thereby splice said first and second yarn ends together..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 16. A device for splicing together a first end of yarnand a second end of yarn, each of said ends including several entangledstrands of fiber, said device comprising: disentangling means forseparating said entangled strands of fiber of each of the ends andaligning them; positioning means for aligning said first and second yarnends adjacent each other, in an overlapping manner, and facing inessentially opposite directions; compressed fluid splicing means forentangling the separated strands of fiber from said first yarn end withthe separated strands of fiber from said second yarn end to therebysplice said first and second yarn ends together wherein said positioningmeans further comprises movable yarn guides for directing said yarn endsfrom said disentangling means to said splicing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A device for splicing together a first end of yarn and a second endof yarn, each of said ends including several entangled strands of fiber,said device comprising: disentangling means for separating saidentangled strands of fiber of each of the ends and aligning them;positioning means for aligning said first and second yarn ends adjacenteach other, in an overlapping manner, and facing in essentially oppositedirections, wherein said positioning means further comprises clampingmeans, adjacent the disentangling means, for preventing the unravellingof at least one of said yarn ends beyond a predetermined point;compressed fluid splicing means for entangling the separated strands offiber from said first yarn end with the separated strands of fiber fromsaid second yarn end to thereby splice said first and second yarn endstogether. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 18. A device for splicing together a firstend of yarn and a second end of yarn, each of said ends includingseveral entangled strands of fiber, said device comprising:disentangling means for separating said entangled strands of fiber ofeach of the ends and aligning them; positioning means for aligning saidfirst and second yarn ends adjacent each other, in an overlappingmanner, and facing in essentially opposite directions; compressed fluidsplicing means for entangling the separated strands of fiber from saidfirst yarn end with the separated strands of fiber from said second yarnend to thereby splice said first and second yarn ends together whereinsaid positioning means further comprises a means for adjusting thelength of said yarn ends to be inserted into said splicing means..Iaddend..Iadd.
 19. A method for joining together a first end of spunyarn and a second end of spun yarn, each end of said spun yarn beingcomposed of several entangled strands of fiber, said method comprisingthe steps of: disentangling said entangled strands of said yarn ends,wherein said disentangling step further comprises the step of removingdetached strands of fiber from said yarn ends; aligning saiddisentangled strands of said yarn ends; positioning said yarn endsadjacent each other, in an overlapping manner, facing in essentiallyopposite directions; and splicing said yarn ends together. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 20. A method for joining together a first end of spun yarn and asecond end of spun yarn, each end of said spun yarn being composed ofseveral entangled strands of fiber, said method comprising the steps of:disentangling said entangled strands of said yarn ends; aligning saiddisentangled strands of said yarn ends; positioning said yarn endsadjacent each other, in an overlapping manner, facing in essentiallyopposite directions; and splicing said yarn ends together, wherein saidsplicing step comprises the steps of:adjusting the length of said yarnends to be spliced; inserting the yarn ends into a splicing chamber;directing compressed fluid at the yarn ends within said splicingchamber, whereby the yarn ends are intermeshed and twisted together; andremoving the twisted together yarn ends from said splicing chamber..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 21. A method for joining together a first end of spunyarn and a second end of spun yarn, each end of said spun yarn beingcomposed of several entangled strands of fiber, said method comprisingthe steps of: disentangling said entangled strands of said yarn ends;aligning said disentangled strands of said yarn ends; positioning saidyarn ends adjacent each other, in an overlapping manner, facing inessentially opposite directions; and splicing said yarn ends togetherwherein said disentangling and aligning steps occur simultaneously..Iaddend..Iadd.
 22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said disentanglingand aligning steps further comprise the steps of: adjusting the lengthof said yarn ends to be disentangled and aligned; inserting the yarnends into at least one control nozzle; subjecting the yarn ends to asuction force created by compressed fluid flowing through said controlnozzle, whereby said entangled strands of said yarn ends are separatedand disentangled; and removing the yarn ends from said at least onecontrol nozzle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 23. A method as in claim 22 whereinsaid step of subjecting said yarn ends to a suction force furthercomprises the step of directing a stream of compressed fluid at saidyarn ends in a manner such that said stream impinges upon said yarn endsin a direction opposite to the twisting direction of said yarn ends..Iaddend..Iadd.
 24. A method as in claim 20 wherein said splicing stepfurther comprises the step of securing at least one of the yarn ends ata position adjacent the disentangled portions to prevent the twistingaction of the compressed fluid from unravelling the remainder of theyarn. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 25. A method as in claim 20 or 23 furtherincluding the steps of controlling the pressure and timing of saidcompressed fluid as a function of said yarn end characteristics..Iaddend..Iadd.
 26. A method as in claim 22 further comprising the stepsof subjecting the end fibers of said yarn ends to the suction force ofsaid control nozzle simultaneously with said splicing step, whereby atension corresponding to the suction force of said control nozzle isimposed on said yarn ends. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 27. A device as in claim 10wherein said disentangling means includes two vacuum control nozzles,one disposed on either side of said splicing means and adjacent to saidsplicing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 28. A device for splicing together afirst end of yarn and a second end of yarn, each of said ends includingseveral entangled strands of fiber, said device comprising: suctionstream means; disentangling means for separating said entangled strandsof fiber of each of the ends and aligning them while said yarn ends arekept free by said suction stream means; positioning means for aligningsaid first and second yarn ends adjacent each other, in an overlappingmanner, and facing in essentially opposite directions; compressed fluidsplicing means for entangling the separated strands of fiber from saidfirst yarn end with the separated strands of fiber from said second yarnend to thereby splice said first and second yarn ends together..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 29. A method for joining together a first end of spunyarn and a second end of spun yarn, each end of said spun yarn beingcomposed of several entangled strands of fiber, said method comprisingthe steps of: holding each of said yarn ends at a point near the endthereof; keeping the extreme ends of said yarn ends free under theaction of a suction stream; disentangling said entangled strands of saidyarn ends; aligning said disentangled strands of said yarn ends;positioning said yarn ends adjacent each other, in an overlappingmanner, facing in essentially opposite directions; and splicing saidyarn ends together.